Water box and expansion chamber device for a heat exchanger

Abstract

An integrally molded water box (36) and expansion chamber (38) device having a water box (36) with a middle partition (40) dividing it into two compartments, with a liquid inlet fitting (44) opening into the top compartment and a liquid outlet fitting (46) opening out into the bottom compartment. The inlet fitting (44) is located adjacent to the middle partition (40) and is connected to the expansion chamber via an orifice (48) through a wall (50) separating the expansion chamber from the water box, said orifice forming a liquid degassing passage. The invention is applicable to motor vehicle radiators.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A water box and expansion chamber device for a heat exchanger, such as a radiator in a cooling circuit for an internal combustion engine, in which the water box and the expansion chamber constitute a one-piece molded assembly, with the water box being disposed in a generally vertical position and including an internal partition dividing it into a top compartment and a bottom compartment, the top compartment having a liquid inlet fitting opening out therein and the bottom compartment having a liquid outlet fitting opening out therein, said liquid inlet and outlet fittings being integrally molded with the water box, the water box and expansion chamber device including the improvement whereby the liquid inlet fitting is substantially adjacent to said internal partition in the water box and also to the expansion chamber, and a liquid degassing passage integrally formed through a wall separating the water box and the expansion chamber and opening directly into the liquid inlet fitting and also into the expansion chamber below the level of the liquid normally contained therein. 
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber includes an internal tubular rim level with said degassing passage, said rim being oriented towards the top end of the expansion chamber to guide bubbles of air or gas upwardly. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 1, wherein an additional degassing passage is formed through the wall separating the expansion chamber and the water box, said additional degassing pasasge opening out into the water box immediately below the internal partition therein and likewise forming a liquid degassing passage. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the water box and the expansion chamber are spaced a small distance apart and integrally molded as a single part, and wherein each degassing passage comprises a duct integrally molded with the water box and the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the water box and the expansion chamber are spaced a small distance apart and integrally molded as a single part, and wherein the degassing passage comprises a duct integrally molded with the water box and the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 2, wherein the water box and the expansion chamber are spaced a small distance apart and integrally molded as a single part, and wherein the degassing passage comprises a duct integrally molded with the water box and the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said degassing passage comprises an orifice.